Find the materials you need for these Halloween crafts in your recycling bin!
Spirit Halloween doesn’t HAVE to have you by the throat every October (although it’s okay if it does–you’re only human!), not when you’ve got a full recycling bin, a nearby thrift store or two, and a membership in your local Freecycle network. You can make so many professional-quality Halloween crafts just from the cardboard, paper, and glass jars in your recycling bin alone.
Below, check out some of my favorite Halloween crafts that you can make from stuff you already own… or stuff that you can scavenge like a wily raccoon in a dumpster!
Potion Bottles Upcycled from Glass Bottles
All it takes to transform any old glass bottle into the spookiest potion bottle fit for the gloomiest apothecary is hot glue, paint, and a few jewelry findings. The process looks a lot harder than it is, so this project is suitable for anyone, kid on up, who can handle a hot glue gun. For extra fun, scramble around your local recycling center like an opossum and seek out glass bottles with especially interesting or unusual shapes. They make the best potions!
Directional Sign Upcycled from Pallets
I cannot even explain the hold that crafting with old pallets had on me–had on all of us, really!–back in the mid 2010s. And to tell the truth, I still love myself a pallet upcycling project, although these days I keep my obsession confined to outdoor projects. This directional sign makes the perfect outdoor project for Halloween, especially since you can customize it with all of YOUR spookiest places. My sign is definitely going to show you the way to Mordor, Salem’s Lot, and the Other Mother’s house!
Ghost Portraits from Upcycled Egg Cartons
I LOVE switching out my wall art for holidays, so these cute little ghost portraits are exactly my style. They’re especially fun because they’re not spooky, and so they’re perfect for any scaredy cats you might know and love. And because it’s all cardboard, after Halloween you could store them for next year—or recycle them and just make new ones next year!
Haunted House Luminaries from Upycled Cardboard
This is a great way to use any extra Jack-o-lantern tea lights that you’ve got on hand. To make the project kid-friendly, do all the cutting, then let kids paint their haunted houses however they like.
Painted Luminaries from Upcycled Jars
If you’re looking for a luminary craft that doesn’t require a lot of intricate cutting, these painted luminaries are the perfect alternative. Upcycle any old jar for the season, and on November 1, that same jar can go right back in the recycling bin!
Jack-o-Lantern Collage from Upcycled Magazines
A large-scale collage is a terrific process-oriented art activity for preschoolers on up (for a preschool-friendly adhesive, check out this taste-safe homemade paste recipe). A bunch of small-scale collages would look so awesome incorporated into a garland over a mantlepiece!
Ornaments Upcycled from Tin Can Lids
This is a super cute and very kid-friendly idea for upcycling tin can lids. Just make VERY sure that your cans have no sharp edges! If you have a particularly eclectic Christmas tree, you could even pull these back out after Thanksgiving.
Skulls from Upcycled Plastic Milk Jugs
This is an involved project, and it does require obtaining a resin skull to use as a mold, but look at the amazing results! Before you buy a brand-new mold, check out your local buy nothing or secondhand groups to see if you can take a used one off of someone’s hands.
Witch Hat from Upcycled Formalwear
Your old Prom dress was ugly. Heck, it’s very possible that your old wedding dress was also ugly! But you know what’s NOT ugly? A witch hat sewn from that fancy formalwear fabric! Utilize that luscious fabric and the beautiful embellishments while allowing yourself to forget all about the awkward cut and unstylish fit–you need to know that shoulder pads are not coming back into style.
Pumpkins Upcycled from Mason Jar Lid Rings
My favorite thing about these pumpkins is that there not super Halloween-specific, so you can easily leave them on display through Thanksgiving. And if you don’t paint them, you can even put them back into service afterwards!
P.S. Still not done with your Halloween crafting? Check out a dozen pretty things to sew for Halloween!
